EMAIL | [email protected] Vol. 4 No. 6 / October 2015 NDP demands: NO MORE CARDING Jagmeet Singh, Deputy Leader of 3. In order to protect people’s the Ontario NDP, says “carding” has rights, what oversight can the got to stop. government apply to ensure that It is a practice where police stop and these interactions are conducted question members of the public, record properly? replies and feed the answers into a data base. Objections have been made to Singh objected to the questions and “carding” on claims that police target said: black youth, who regard the stops, the “There has been community activ- questions, and the recording, as intim- ists, a number of personal stories, legal idation. associations and civil liberties groups Singh, MPP for Bramalea-Gore- who have clearly articulated that we Malton, spoke at a meeting in Brampton know what street checks are, we know called by the Ministry of Community what carding is. Safety and Correctional Services. “These are processes -- practices Among the 100 or so in atten- where people are arbitrarily stopped dance were members of the black – questioned and their information is community, senior police officers, the recorded mayor of Brampton and the mayor of “What it does is, it sends a message Mississauga (both are members of Peel to certain people in our community Police Services Board), representatives that they don’t belong. And it must be of Peel’s Black Community Action stopped. Network, and others. “This is a practice that cannot be regulated. We know it is already being Why carding must end: challenged in court – a challenge to the The meeting was conducted as a idea of stopping arbitrarily and asking workshop, with three questions for dis- questions and recording the data. We cussion: are confident it will be determined to 1. How would you define a street be illegal check? “How can we answer the questions 2. If a police officer stops an indi- posed? In 2011, Senate page Brigitte LePape caused a stir when she held a homemade vidual, asks them questions, and “If a police officer stops and ques- stop sign with the addition of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s surname during the Throne Speech. With a federal election set for October 19, some citizens records their information, what tions an individual without any grounds. have taken a page out of LePape’s book and posted Stop Harper signs across rules do you think should be in “This is a practice that should not the country. The sign here is in Streetsville. Note that street signs are municipal place to govern these interac- happen in the first place. property so you could be fined for violating local bylaws. (Tough Times photo. Re- tions? (CARDING, continued on p. 11) search by Marine Makris) See more on page 11 says VOTE 2 Tough Times - October 2015 Did You Tough Times is published Know? seven times a year Next issue: Nov/Dec 2015 PEEL POVERTY Deadline for ads and editorial: ACTION GROUP November 1, 2015. Peel Poverty Action Group We encourage and welcome volunteer (PPAG) is open to every writers, reporters, artists, cartoonists, individual and organization in photographers, distributors and sales Peel Region that cares about folk to join Tough Times. what poverty does to people. Please email letters to: It provides a safe place where [email protected] people who are cash-poor and Editor: those who try to help them are Edna Toth encouraged to speak out.-- and Associate Editor: Tough Times is part of that safe Ryan Gurcharn place. Graphic Designer: The Group’s mandate is to DownDown TurnTurn AbbeyAbbey Patti Moran advocate for people in need and to educate the public about -- Contributors: (alphabetically by last name) poverty issues. Michelle Bilek, Laura Bilyea, Brad Voting while homeless Butt, Ed Crewson, Bonnie Crombie, Membership is free. Meetings You need a street address to vote in the While waiting for the food bank… Dianne Douglas, Eric Guerbilsky, Ryan take place at 9.15 a.m. the October 19 federal election. “My daughter pays $950 for rent, for Gurcharn, Harbaljit Kahlon, Farheen second Thursday of every Living in your car? Elections herself and her 12-year-old son. Social Khan, Rosemary Keenan, Lhin Nguy- month, alternately in Mississauga Canada takes a driver’s licence, assistance gives her $663, then there’s en, Adaoma Patterson, Martin Singh, or Brampton. an ID card issued by the Ontario $212 for her son. It doesn’t even pay the Pauline Thornham, Rehya Yazbek. Printed by: Atlantic Web Printers www.ppag.wordpress.com Government, or any other govern- rent, not to mention food or supplies ment card with your photo, name, and when her son goes back to school. She current address, as proof of address. had to borrow from family and friends. One of these items is adequate proof She must repay more than $2000. Now for voting purposes. she has a seven-month contract job. Homeless: If you are homeless and don’t have The government can do better for us. Advertising any of these, go to your nearest shelter They have no compassion.” The Video or soup kitchen for help. In Brampton, Rates Knights Table at 287 Glidden Road (just The worry Spaces and Places: Uncovering east of Kennedy Road) or Regeneration “The worst part of being poor is that Tough Times distributes 10,000 Homelessness in the Region of Peel copies, throughout Peel Region. at Grace United Church, 156 Main Street you worry – constantly – about how is a 15-minute video in which North, will give you a letter that will you will manage – how will you eat, or Target audience is people homeless people describe their experiencing homelessness, using experiences. satisfy Elections Canada. (Mississauga pay the rent, or pay bus fare. The worry does not have a soup kitchen.) never leaves you.” food banks and soup kitchens, people who are struggling, A team from PPAG including a However, in this case, you need two plus faith groups, social service once-homeless person, will show approved pieces of paper, not just one, Eating at the soup kitchen… the video to a group on request. agencies, trades unions, business as proof of who you are. “I’ve got a job at Peace Ranch in people, and the general public. There is no charge. Have you got a health card? Caledon. I go one day a week to work To advertise in Tough Times: To book a showing contact Canadian passport? Birth certificate? on the farm. They pick me up and drop Citizenship card? Credit card? Library me off. The pay is all right. I pick po- [email protected] [email protected]. Allow Phone: 905 826-5041 card? Utility bill? Personal cheque? tatoes, do some weeding. I follow the about 45 minutes for the video Mail address: 4 - 287 Glidden Road and discussion. Government cheque or cheque stub? tractor. I don’t drive it. It’s life in the Brampton ON L6W 1H9, Canada These are just a few of a long list of outdoors and I enjoy it. I get a bit sore The video was made by a acceptable documents. sometimes – I’m out of shape. Peace Advertising rates: (colour included) team from York University, in Will homeless people have at least Ranch is a commercial operation and Business card: $75 1/16 page: $85 cooperation with the Social one of them? Probably not. they sell what they grow.” 1/8 page: $135 Planning Council of Peel, In Mississauga, homeless voters financed by a grant from the 1/4 page: $205 Bedbugs and worse Ontario Trillium Foundation. in need of identity letters can visit 1/2 page: $375 the Salvation Army shelter at 3167 I’m in a rooming house. The landlord 3/4 page: $515 Download at: Cawthra Road, or consult Peel’s Family fumigated, but the bed bugs and cock- Full page: $655 http://ppag.wordpress.com/ Living Centre on Dundas Street East. roaches are still there. I’ve been bitten A full page is approximately 10 inches spaces-and-places-video/ Food banks should contact the by bed bugs as you can see (he shows wide by 12 inches deep = 120 square Returning Officer of their riding if they the now-healed scars) so lost my job at a inches. E&OE want to issue letters to homeless clients. restaurant. I want to work. Tough Times - October 2015 3 Where the girls are BY called House Officers. Under MICHELLE Tom’s leadership, six of the BILEK nine NDP House Officers Women were women, including two New deputy Leaders, the Whip and Democrats the NDP Caucus Chair. are running By contrast, Justin Trudeau in six of Peel included just one woman Region’s 12 ridings. among House Officer posi- Why? Because women are tions. Almost 40% of New proud to campaign with Tom Democrat Opposition Day Mulcair, a leader who values motions and over 46% of their presence and participa- Question Period questions tion as MPs. All party Leaders were sponsored by female in this election say they want to MPs. Less than 10% of Liberal see more women in politics. But Opposition Day Motions, and what sets Tom Mulcair apart is less than 20% of Question Above: With voting day still some weeks away, women New Demo- crats seeking election in Peel ridings are already holding their own that he’ll get the job done. We are Period questions were spon- caucus meetings. From left: Farheen Khan, running in Mississauga with Tom Mulcair’s team because sored by female Liberal MPs, Centre; Dianne Douglas, in Mississauga Malton; Adaoma Patterson, he backs up words with action.